Signal-lantern.



Patented May 6, I902.

L E B E U R E A C cm 7 9 9 6 n" N SIGNAL LANTERN.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.)

O. A. E. Buebel TKE NORRIS PETERS c0 wofuumo. WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. A. ERNST RUEBEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E. II. R. GREEN, OF TERRELL, TEXAS.

SIG NAL-LANTERN.

SEECIFIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,576, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed August 9, 1901. Serial No. 71.491. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, C. A. ERNST RUEBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Signal-Lantern, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to signal-lanterns, and more particularly to signal-lanterns such as are used on railways to indicate whether or not the track is clear for the passage of a train. In lanterns of this class it has heretofore been customary to use some form of oilburner.

.One object of my invention is to so construct a signal-lantern that a gas-burner can be used therein.

Still another object of my invention is to so construct alantern that it will not be liable to injury from explosions caused by gas escaping from the burner.

My invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction, all of which are described in the follow specification and pointed out in the claims affixed hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of signal-lantern made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like marks of reference refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

5 is the body of the lantern, which is preferably of the usual cylindrical form. The body 5 is provided with a bottom 6, in which is a central opening 7, preferably rectangular in form for receiving the support by means of which the lantern is carried and by which it is rotated. The front of the lantern may be provided with a door 8 to give access to the interior of the lantern. This door 8 is provided with a lens 9, and three other similar lenses 9 are placed in the sides of the lantern. The body 5 is provided with a top 10, preferably smaller in diameter than the said body 5. This top 10 is providedwith perforated tubes 11, through which the heated air escapes from the lantern. Fresh air is supplied to the lantern by means of perforated pipes 12, arranged in the body of the lantern. The top 10 extends a short distance into the body 5 and is provided with a number of openings 14. The downward movement of the top 10 is limited by means of a flange 15, formed on the said top 10 and resting upon a flange 16, carried by the body 5.

17 is a bail by means of which the lantern may be lifted. This bail 17 is provided with a guide-rod 18, which guidesthe movement of the top 10. Surrounding the guide-rod 18 is the coil-spring 19, which bears upon the top 10 and holds the flange 15 firmly incontact with the flange 16. Formed in the bottom 6 is a curved slot 20, having the axis of the lantern for its center. Through this slot 20 passes the supply-pipe 21 for supplying gas to the burner. The slot 20 is covered by means of a shield 22, rigidly secured to the supply-pipe 21. At the top of the supplypipe 21 is arranged the burner 23.

My lantern is intended more particularly for use with a burner which can be lighted from a distance-such, for instance, as an electric gas-lighting burner; but as the form of burner forms no part of my invention I have shown an ordinary burner.

It will be seen that as the lantern is rotated the supply-pipe 21 can remain stationary owing to the form of the slot 20 and that the slot 20 will always be closed by the guard 22, so as not to admit currents of air which would interfere with the light. In case a burner is used which is lighted and extinguished from adistance it will often happen that the burner fails to immediately light when the gas is turned on. The result is that considerable gas mixed with air will accumulate in the top of the lantern, and when the burner is lighted an explosion will result. In order to prevent this explosion from blowing out the lenses 9, and thus disabling the lantern, the top of my lantern is made movable, as has been herein-' before described. As soon as the explosion takes place the top 10 will be forced upward against the pressure of the spring 19 until the openings 14 are above the flange 16 on the body of the lantern. This will allow the gases to escape through the said openings 14. The top 10 will then be returned to its normal position by means of the spring 19 without causing any injury to the lantern.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination With a rotatable signallantern, of a slot formed in the bottom of said lantern between the axis of rotation and the sides of the lantern, a stationary gas-supply pipe projecting through said slot, and a shield carried by said supply-pipe and closing said slot.

2. In a signal-lantern,the combination with a lantern-body, of a movable top carried by said body, and an opening in said top adapted to be put into communication With the atmosphere by the movement of said top.

3. In a signal-1antern,the combination with a lantern-body, of a movable top carried by said body, an opening in said top adapted to be put into communication with the atmosphere by the movement of said top, and a spring for returning said top to its normal position.

4. Inasignal-lantern,the combination with a lantern-body, of a flange carried at the top of said body, a movable lantern-top projecting into said body and provided with openings adapted to be put into communication with the atmosphere by the movement of said top, and a flange carried by said top and resting on the flange on said body.

5. In a signal-lantern,the combination with a lantern-body, of a flange carried by said body, a movable top projecting into said body and provided With openings adapted to be put into communication with the atmosphere by the movement of said top, a flange carried by said top and resting on the flange on said body, and a spring for returning said top to its normal position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

C. A. ERNST RUEBEL. [L. s.]

\Vitnesses:

GEO. E. WELLs, WM. T. JoNEs. 

